Process of and mixture for cleaning crude oil



Patented Jan. 15,

UN 1 TE!) TAT Es O WILLIQAM L. PALMER, or LonsBEAoH,'caniroa vm. 3

PROCESS-0F AND MIXTURE non oLEA-nm CRUDEOIL'T p 7 No Drawing. Application; filed May 17,

This invention relates to a process of cleaning crude oil or, in other words, to a process for separating the oil from the water and other foreign matter associated with said oil as it comes from the wells. The invention also relates to the mixture for effecting the cleaning. ,7

It is well known that crude oil has mixed with'it more or less water and that theoil and water is often in an emulsified condition, thus making the seperation, thereof rather difficult.

It is anobject of this invention to; facilitate the separation of the oil from water and whatever other foreign matter, such assand, may be mixed with the oil.

A further object is to accomplish the force going by mixing with 'themixture of'oil and water a number of chemicals which will.

hasten the separation, so that the treated oil needonly stand in the gravity separating tanks from twelve to twentysfour hours.

The mixture which I at present employ for treating the oil includes: 1

V c Parts. Oxalic acid, approximately 01 Glycerin, honey, or castor oil, approxi mately 101 Glacial-acetic acid, approximately .02 Oresylic acid, approximately a .48 Oleic acid, approximately .48

' The oxalic acid is dissolved in the glycerin, honey or castor oil and the dissolving is facilitated by heating the mixture to a temperature somewhat below theboiling point. After the oxalic acid is dissolved, the mixture thus made is mixed with the other ingredients by pouring them together to. form the cleaning mixture.

The cleaning mixture-is then addedto the oil in approximately the proportion of one gallon of the mixture to one hundred barrels of crude oil. Mixing with the oil maybe accomplished by circulating the mixture and oil from bottom to top of a suitable tank or, if desired, the mixture may be added drop by drop on its way through the pipe line from the wells to the tank by employing in said pipe line a sight feed lubricator. i

After the ingredients and oil have been thoroughly mixed, the treated oil is allowed to stand in the tank from twelve to twenty time'dependingr four hours, the length of glycerin,

approximately twoiparts 1926'." Serial 109,788.

upon the character of the oil and the amount;

of foreign'matter that it carries.

ing-of the oil in theitank is for the purpose of permitting the water and other foreign matter to be precipitated by. the actionof j 5 gravity so thatthe clean oil will remain in the'upper portion of the tank'and can be" rawn off from time to time.

sive v experimentation and,

Ihave not found any substance erin,'l 10ney ,or castor oil that willfuncti on The amounts ofthedifferentingredients given above have been determined by extena} B5 V extent, relatively-great variations-from the amounts 1; givenwill'not produce thei'desired results. j V- besideglyd' p as a solvent for oxalic acid,'but in the iap' pended claims I employ theexpression sol- 'T vent for oxalic acid instead of thetermsfl ll I glycerin, honey or castor oil,,in order to be. i 7'5 2 surevto include any other substances that I may discover in the future tobe solvents for the-oxalic acid, since the only function ofthe condition in order that said acid may be properly mixed. with'the. oil and Water.- f

1. The process of cleaning crude oil which honey or castor'oil in the mixture v isto reduce the oxalic acid crystals'toa liquid 1- conslsts in dissolving oxalic acid in a suitable solvent, mixing with the acid thus dissolved glacial-acetic acid, cresylic acid and oleic acid, adding thercrude oil, and the permitting the oil to stand until the water settlesout." 2. A cleaning mixture forcrude oil comprising oxalic acid in. solution, glacial-acetic acid, cresylic acid and 'oleic acid. V 3. A cleaningmixture for crude oil comprisingapproximatel onegpart oxalic acid I I j glacial-acetic a id dissolved in approximately one part glycerin,

the mixture thus produced toffjapproximately 48 parts 'cresylic acid, [and m approximately 48 parts oleic'acid. l

4c. Agcleaning mixturefor crude oil,comprising, approximately onepart oxalic'aciddissolved in approximately one part solvent,

two parts glacial-acetic acid,

approximately approximately 48 parts cresylic-acid andap-j proximately 48 parts oleic'acidi' 1 Y 7 Signed at Los Angeles, Galif., this 29 day of March, 1926. I" V WILIlI AM-"L. PALMER; i 

